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AUTOBIOGRAPHY
An autobiography is a nonfiction story of a person’s life, written from their point of view. Autobiographies are popular among the general reading public.
A Bittersweet Scar
by Kate Ashley DimaandalIt was May 22, 2023 when my family was waiting for the confirmation with sweat palms, loud heartbeat, and quick breaths for the dream that we had been praying for the past years. After how many hours, we jumped out of joy because God gave the most special gift that came into our lives—the angel of our family, Akihiro Alex. After that confirmation that my mom was 1 month pregnant, there were established rules in our house that needed for each member to comply since my mother is already at risk in bearing a child who is 45 years old and has problems with her ovaries. Our family owns a bakery which before my father knew that my mother was pregnant, she was always tired of taking care of our bakery since she was waking up at 3:30am up to 9:00pm whenever we were at school. The everyday life cycle of my mother changed after that day, which my siblings and I made sacrifices by waking up early during our weekends and going straight to our bakery after classes to take care of our bakery just to make our mother and our brother safe and secured. As months went by, during every check up of my mother, I was the one with her. Whenever we see him in ultrasound, we feel very excited to see him and the conversation that I had with my siblings were all about him-how we will teach him to play a guitar, who will be the one will fetch him going and after school or church service, and who is in charge of changing his diapers in a day. Unfortunately, he came with the time we did not expect him to be with us. My mother gave birth to him on September 29 at exactly 3:27am which does not align with the month that the doctor had said which is November, that is when the bittersweet happenings started. We were approached by the doctor with a heartbreak truth that my brother has complications in his digestive parts which were not yet fully developed since he was 6 month year-old. Shock and devastation were what we felt when the doctor also confessed that they cannot assure us that my brother will live long since it was not yet his time to see the world. We cry because of that heartbroken news, which we thought we would experience in the typical scenes in the movie, feeling ecstatic after your loved one gave birth. Since my brother needed special doctors, we had to transfer him to JBL Hospital in San Fernando. It was only my father, our yaya, and I who waited for him to undergo the operation that he needed to accomplish. We were standing patiently waiting, starting at 6 pm until 1:30 am there since there were a lot of patients waiting. My brother’s operation took 5 hours to finish, which started at 3 am until 8 am. After that operation, it still cannot assure us that he will be totally okay according to the doctors since there were more tests to do with him. After school classes, we were always checking on him from Tarlac to San Fernando, which became part of our routine to see how he was progressing; thankfully, he was complying with the medicines that were given to him. On October 5, 2024, my dad and I were the only ones who would visit him since my siblings were still at school and my mother needed to rest. Our yaya called saying that my brother had already given up. Questions came through my mind, asking what happened. We thought he was already doing fine days after the surgery, but he did not make it. During his funeral wake, I felt numb from everything; I could not even say hi to the visitors or mask my sadness because it hurt me a lot. It was indeed a bittersweet memory for which I am grateful and regretful that it happened because it made my family happy for a brief moment but left a scar in our heart that will surely be remembered forever.
Escape Within Reality
by Kristen RayaLife has a way of weaving unexpected stories, and mine took a significant turn in June of 2024 when I moved from one city to another; living with my lovely grandparents. It was not the plot twist I just wanted, it was what I badly needed as well. I have always been a lolo and lola’s girl. I, as a kid, trusted them more than anyone. Maybe because of the heaps of candy they bought me, or maybe I just loved them so much… or both. Now as a teenager, I still love them so deeply.The first half of 2024 for me felt like walking through hot stones. There were countless times when I had to call my grandparents’ help for them to come and get me before the burning sensation became too much. And they came every single time to save me.That’s why Capas, Tarlac, their hometown, became my escape from the chaos of reality. I would stay there whenever I felt the world collapsing again ‘cause their presence itself mended parts of me I didn’t even know needed healing. Few calls and more of them saving me later. I finally decided their long due offer for me to stay with them until I am strong enough to face the unrealistic demands of life in reality.The first few weeks were full of mixed emotions. I felt welcome and overwhelmed, but also felt homesick of the house I used to live in 24/7. I eventually got through it and adapted to the new life, it wasn’t hard because after all, my grandparents built a house where each wall screamed comfort and home. Each morning was full of joy and laughter, meals packed with love and deliciousness, nights full of stories and lessons.A month later, school officially started. It was one of the things I have been overthinking, but my lola and lolo never failed to assure me that I’d definitely do well as long as I trust God and the process. Them believing in me was enough to calm me down and fight the negative thoughts creeping in me. So on the first day of school, lolo made sure to drive me to school to wish me luck.Months later, that became our routine–lolo driving me to school and fetching me while we talked about random stories in the car. I also did, in fact, do well in school. I was doing well in studies as well as in making friends, it actually made me regret not getting here earlier.Everything was going so well, so well… or maybe too well. Lolo had to be hospitalized for a week in November. He’s been coughing nonstop for a year, but the doctors constantly reassured us that nothing is wrong and it's all normal. Lolo himself assured us that he felt fine, but his condition said the opposite.He was later diagnosed with a disease that quickly made his lungs decline, making it hard for him to breathe as days went by. I would try my best to stay up at night in his room to look after him. It was my way of showing how much I cared for him.A week before Christmas came, my family all gathered in my lola’s house to help in taking care of him. The doctor assured us that he just needed to go through sessions of therapy that would make him feel better for the coming holidays. We were so excited for it, we haven’t spent Christmas together in a while.Plot twist–it did not happen. Although it’s hard to believe it, God had different plans to make lolo feel better: and that is to take him home to his arms. This plot twist was not one I needed or wanted. Grief was the feeling I never wanted to experience this soon.Yet again, fate is hard to question because it will happen whether we like it or not. That’s the biggest lesson I learned in 2024. All we can only do is learn how to accept and heal from what occurred.As I reflect on the whirlwind of emotions throughout 2024, I realize that life’s unpredictability has shaped me profoundly. Me moving away from my previous home did not make me escape from reality, it’s just that my grandparents’ love made my new home a short-lived escape while also living inside the same reality. The love and lessons from my grandparents provided solace during my darkest days, teaching me resilience and the importance of cherishing every moment. Losing lolo was an unimaginable heartbreak, yet it reinforced the truth that love transcends even the deepest grief. After all, what is grief if not love persevering?
Whatever it Takes to be Confidently Pretty and Pretty Confident
by Tiffany Ambher SibalI was never one to wear make-up before. Ever since I was young, I honestly thought wearing and buying make-up products would just be a waste of money and time. I mean, who could blame me? They did say that we should embrace our natural beauty. Although I did try to wear make-up during 10th grade but failed miserably. 2024 was the year that truly started my obsession with cosmetics. It all began when I was told that no one would help us fix ourselves up for our recognition day. Weird? I know. But, being someone who wanted to actually feel pretty, I felt pretty sad. However, all of it changed while I was fixing up my sister’s hair. I remembered that I’ve bought some loose powder and blush before, reason being–I’ve wanted to impress someone but that’s a story for another time. Then, I tried doing what my friend used to do to me in order to help my sister feel confident in herself. After I was done fixing her up, I was honestly so proud of myself, like.. I actually did that? Moving on, I then tried to fix myself. And even though I did not have every make-up product I needed, I was still able to make myself feel pretty. I really felt pretty. Looking back on it now, it might’ve just looked mediocre and was really just a simple make-up look. But before, to me, it was everything. After that day, my perspective on make-up changed almost instantly. I immediately started saving money to buy more make-up. From foundation and brushes, to contour and eyeliner, my obsession was skyrocketing off the roof. I wasn’t able to stop buying. I’ve also learnt pretty quickly for someone who disliked using make-up. I wanted to feel pretty, to feel like someone I actually wanted to be. Ever since then, I cared even more about my appearance: My hair started to look more natural, turning into pretty curls which people would comment on; My sense of style became a whole lot better as well; Even my face was being complimented on as my pimples started to lessen. I felt so pretty. I felt so much more confident. Who wouldn’t want to feel confident and look pretty, right? However, it came to a point where I was being judged by my family, especially my mom’s mother. Since our trip from HongKong, she kept on telling me that I would never survive college if I acted too “maarte”, that I took too much time to get ready, and even worse insults which I will not be stating. By then, my entire appearance, all my flaws and insecurities, all of it was mentioned that it truly felt like my confidence had begun to fall like Alice falling down the neverending rabbit hole filled with despair. Although I had been complimented by other people before about the way I look, to me, having someone from my family talk about my appearance in such a way that it almost felt like they were disgusted by my entire existence, felt like a knife to the chest. Heck, it felt like I was being burnt on stake. Nevertheless, I tried my best to keep my composure. I’m not letting a few words and sentences get the best of me. From that moment on, my make-up kit never left my side. It became my source of confidence. I fully believe that because of the confidence it helped me earn, I was able to feel confidently prettier which caused me to be even more confident in every other aspect of myself. I began to take risks: joining the school’s editorial writing for the school paper; joining the PSPC competition again; and even focusing more on my academics while still having fun as a teenager. All that I’m trying to say here is that, never let a few words bring you down but make it the motivation you need and thrive on it. And right now, I can confidently say that I am more confident than ever, especially in achieving my goals in life, all thanks to make-up–the items that never hid my actual appearance, but only boosted my already pretty and unique features.
